🕹️ Traditional Roguelike
GnollHack is a traditional roguelike, being based on the game design of Rogue. Thus, GnollHack features:
- Turn-based gameplay
- Grid-based movement
- Procedural generation of dungeons and items
- Permadeath (classic mode only)
- No meta-progression between runs
- A great number of different game mechanics
- High fantasy world
🧬 NetHack Variant
GnollHack is also a true NetHack variant that retains most of its mechanics, complexity, and spirit, while adding new features. GnollHack is aimed at making NetHack more beginner-friendly while at the same time trying to keep the game interesting for veterans, especially in the late game. In this regard, GnollHack introduces:
- Difficulty levels
- In-game item and monster information
- In-game hints and quest and gameplay guidance
- Optional in-game AI advisor (the Gnoll Overseer)
- Removal of unnecessary instant-death situations
- Large number of new late-game monsters
- Interesting late-game items
🖥️ NetHack Remaster
GnollHack can also be viewed as a NetHack remaster, adding the following modern features:
- Graphics and animations — Over 23000 64x96-pixel base tiles
- Sounds — Over 1100 sound effects
- Music — 37 music tracks
- Voiceovers — 96 voice actors and over 5000 voiceover lines
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Cross-platform support — Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Native macOS version on Steam (Macs with an M1 or later processor), the recommended way to play on a Mac; these Macs can also run the iOS version, with some quirks
- The Linux version also runs on the Steam Deck
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Modern UI
- Mobile touch-based UI on Android and iOS
- Modern UI for desktop, adapted from the mobile UI
- Steam Deck and game controllers — Play with the Steam Deck's built-in controls, or with a game controller such as an Xbox controller on Linux, macOS, and Windows, using radial menus and on-screen button hints (see Steam Deck Controls)
- Optional AI advisor — The Gnoll Overseer offers opt-in tactical advice grounded in your live game state and real game data
All graphics, sounds, music, and voiceovers in the game have been made by real people. No game art or audio is generated with AI.
🧑💻 Open Source
GnollHack is an open-source game, based on NetHack's source code. This means that you can fork it.
- GnollHack's code is licensed under NetHack General Public License.
- GnollHack's graphics and sounds are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License.
GnollHack is developed by Sound Mind Games, a nonprofit organization based in Finland, working in the fields of gaming and mental health.